by Stan Mitchell

"A nation that forgets its past has no future." (Winston Churchill)

I recently spoke to a cleric in another state who says his denomination is being "torn apart" over the question of whether they should worship with an organ, or a band. Personally he felt the organ was more "reverent." I commiserated with him, for division is always heartbreaking, but I also pointed out (kindly, I hope) that while the Bible says nothing about bands and organs, it says a great deal about our worship in song.

For Churches of Christ it has never been about what society demands. We have never adopted a plan of action simply because "church growth studies" say the church will grow thereby. We have always looked to the past, for we are a Restoration Movement.

What we learned from the days of Campbell and Stone, and in the mid part of the twentieth century is that when a church stands fervently for the word of God, that there are people out there who are hungry to hear it, and the church will grow. In both periods, the churches of Christ were the fastest growing religious fellowship in America.

What we learn from the era of Constantine the Great, when the church began to fall away from scripture, and from the late nineteenth century when churches of Christ divided when some moved beyond what scripture said, was that when humans begin to feel they are superior to God's word, division and heartbreak is the inevitable end.

Of course we learn most when we turn to the pages of sacred history - the Scriptures - and seek its pages for warnings, commands, example and precedents. We seek to restore the New Testament church's love, her desire to obey God, her world-wide vision. Going back to the Bible is not divisive; leaving God's word for our own selfish desires - now that's always divisive.

"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths; ask for where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16, NIV).

This is to open Richard's new column space. "Square One" is dedicated to introducing people to Christianity. It will treat the basics of what the Christian faith is all about.

Have at, Richard!

by Barbara Oliver

For the July 4th weekend, I joined six fearless ladies from Highland Street in Memphis for a weekend on a 50-foot houseboat. When we left Memphis, we were sure of only two things: We had a cook and a captain, and we were going to have fun!

Then reality set in. We discovered that several people were needed to jump off the boat, swim to shore, and tie it up. To our utter amazement, three Amazon women were in our group: Amy, Carol and Diane. Often, the boat would have to be pulled further one way or the other, and I could hear Amy yelling, "One, two, three. Pull!"

Lynn, our chef, had researched Southern Living and found a whole issue devoted to houseboat cuisine. To put it mildly, we dined sumptuously. But she will be blamed for all those extra pounds that showed up on our bathroom scales this morning.

Janice, the captain, steered us to the right places throughout the weekend, closing her ears to the voices around her saying, "Wasn't that house on the same side the last time? Are you sure this is the right way?" Fortunately for us, it was the right way.

Sue was our plumber. Sue deserves lots of praise! Yea, Sue!

By Saturday night, I was feeling a bit concerned. Everyone on the boat had a job -- except me. I ate. I napped on the couch. I swam. I ate. I read, sitting in the sun with my feet up. But so far, I hadn't contributed one thing to the talented crew. I was, well -- a bum!

I would like to have been the captain, to steer the boat, but I tried, and I wasn't very good at it. Janice could do it better. I would like to have been an Amazon woman, but I am not a strong enough swimmer. Amy, Carol and Diane could do it better. I would like to have been the chef, but I am not a confident cook, and Lynn can cook great! I would like to have been the plumber -- nah! Thank you, Sue, for being willing to do that job!

Then suddenly out of the cabin, someone calls my name. "Barbara, can you come fix this TV and VCR? We want to watch a movie." Finally! Something I can do. After a little fiddling with the two remotes, we were watching the movie. "Ooh!" they exclaimed. I know, I know; it wasn't much, and it wasn't difficult. But don't tell them, because between now and next year I have to convince them that a TV/VCR Technician is an invaluable asset!

During the weekend, we were constantly amazed by the diversity of talents, which had the effect of making us a cohesive unit. We were a community, a church, a fellowship, a family, a body, intent on one goal: having fun. We were focused, and we all worked together to accomplish that goal.

It reminds me of what the church is supposed to be: a body, a group of parts working together to make a cohesive unit. "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all" (1 Corinthians 12:4-7, NKJV).

I like that: "for the profit of all." That is what Christianity is all about. We are a community, a church, a fellowship, a family, a body, intent on one goal: spending eternity with our Father and our Brother.

Let us be focused and work together to accomplish that goal.

by J. Randal Matheny

"Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, 'Why could we not cast it out?'" (Matthew 17:19, NRSV).

Far from the crowd, in private with Jesus, I learn why my best efforts weren't enough. He will tell me, if I'll only go to him.

He will show me my wrong motives. When Jesus was away where God showed his glory, I wanted to be the one to stand out. Ambition killed my success.

He will point out my lack of faith. I thought I had it down pat. "I can do this. Stand back everybody, and watch things happen." But nothing happened. My efforts depended upon my strength, not his.

He will point me to success. Little faith is no faith at all. Any "amount" of faith can deal with the challenges, for the power is not in my faith but in its object, the omnipotent God.

Jesus will answer my question. But first I must go to him, ask the private question that hurts to ask, shut up, and listen to what he has to say.

And I will be grateful that Jesus not only helps me grow in my mistake, but himself blesses another where I failed.

by Richard Mansel

Salvation is the most desirable thing and we are helpless to find it on our own (Romans 3:23). Isaiah 59:2-3a says, "Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood." In order to obtain this salvation we have to find our way back to God.

Romans 5:6 says, "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." In Romans 6:3-4 and Galatians 3:27, we obey his will when we are immersed into his body. Grace gives us that privilege. Ephesians 2:8-9, "for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Joseph Thayer says that "through" refers to the "Means or Instrument by which anything is effected" and "because what is done by means of a person or thing seems to pass as it were through the same." Grace is free and undeserved, yet only through faith can we obtain this special gift.

If grace is the room we enter, faith is the hallway to its entrance. We must pass through it before God will bestow this grace on us. His gift is so special that he has no reason to give it to someone who does not believe he is the Lord (John 3:16). Because it is bestowed on us, we have no right to boast of our worthiness.

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

"Walk" is significant in that it "denotes the state in which one is living." Paul is saying that we exist in a state of service to God. He has created a place for us to work and serve him. Our focus is no longer on us, but on him. Our purpose is to bring glory to him as we work in his vineyard.

The argument for grace or works is framed with ourselves in the spotlight. What do we have to do or not do? Instead, we should turn our eyes upward and say, "What can I do for him?" We exist in his world, we have been washed by his Son's blood, walk in his kingdom and all we can think about is "what do we have to do?"

We come humbly to him and act like a servant doing the will of his Master. He asks us to do certain things and we do them out of gratitude and purpose. These works do not save us because 2:8-9 tells us that grace does. However, these works must be fruit in a life lived for him. The absence of these works means we are no longer useful to his purposes (John 15:1-8; James 2:20-26).

We should say, "Am I still being useful to His kingdom?" The Lord knows us. He knows whether we are continuing to walk for him and does not want "anyone to perish" (2 Peter 3:9). As long as we are trying to live for him, the Lord is there beside us.

We are saved by grace but we live, serve and work for him in his kingdom, by his purposes and designs. Obedience alone does not save, for the sacrifice of Christ is primary, but its absence will condemn us. We forget this at our peril.

After retail management and teaching, Richard began preaching full time in 1995. When he was ten he would read stories he had written to his classmates at school. He writes the newsletter Culture Wars.